alcoholic hep or hep c, help!

I'VE BEEN A VERY HEAVY DRINKER FOR OVER 25 YEARS. TWO YEARS AGO MY DOCTOR TOLD ME I HAVE HEPC. VERY LOW VIRAL COUNT. CAN BE CURED IN 6 MONTHS. I DIDN'T TELL HER ABOUT MY DRINKING. I QUIT DRINKING ONE YEAR AGO. I'M TO START THE HEP C TREATMENT SOON. IS IT POSIBLE THAT I DON'T HAVE HEP C. COULD THIS JUST BE FROM DRINKING FOR A LONG TIME? MY VIRAL LOAD IS LESS THAN 10,OOO. MY LIFE STYLE DID NOT EXSPOSE ME TO THIS ILLNESS (HEP C). NO BLOOD TRAN.  COULD THIS BE ALCOHOLIC HEP?

[GreatBird]

If you have a viral load then you have hepatitis c. Did you take the test to determine your genotype? Have you had a liver biopsy?

There are a lot of people who have hepC who don't know how they got it. Shared toothbrushes could do it. Manicure or pedicure. A nick from a shared razor. Unsterile equipment at a doctor's office.

Congrats on quitting drinking. That's a great gift to your liver. :)

[cuteus]

you have a viral load, it means you have a virus. Alcohol is not a mode of transmission for the Hepatitis C virus. The lab or dr can not mistake hepatitis from a virus with alcohol induced hepatitis.  
It is time to move on from the denial phase and into the solution phase.

[Tallblonde]

You wrote: "My lifestyle did not expose me to this virus."  

HCV can be spread through a number of avenues that put ALL people at risk. Barber/beauty shops, nail salons, dentist offices, etc., are all places that can potentially create a scenario for blood-to-blood contact.  That's why it's a good idea at this point to get vaccinated for Hep B.

Susan

[LvdByGod!]

butternut, yep sounds like ya got it...once you are shown to have a viral load that means they are there and they really ruin the liver...and since you drank with it you will really want to know where your liver damage is at...(drinking accelarates the hep c damage and causes it's own damage). small viral load dosen't mean there is no damage...some folks have very small loads and alot of damage and others have huge viral numbers with no damage...

the most important thing for you right now is to insist on a liver biopsy so you can find out the grade and stage of your liver damage...if you are over a stage/grade 1 then it is advisable to begin treatment...if you ignor it you can end up with liver failure or liver cancer. hepatitus (hepatitis) c does those things silently. people don't show symptoms for liver disease until it's really bad...you gotta kill the virus befor this happens.

let us know your biopsy report and we can help you tell what kind of damage is going on...i pray you find out soon...the biopsy isn't that bad...i am a wimp and i did just fine with a mild sedative...didn't feel a thing.

[rifleman]

Same deal here bliss, generations of heavy drinkers but never any liver problems.  I suppose genes are an important factor in how the liver reacts to HCV.
I remember setting a bucket next to my bed (just in case) before going out on the town when I was in my mid-20's.
When the World Champion New England Patriots played Superbowl 36, I started the day with 18 beers, skipped supper (didn't want to harsh my buzz) and drank rum & cokes during the game to the tune of a whole fifth of Bacardi.  I recall seeing the winning field goal, but the next thing I remember is aking up on the floor with my head in the terlet at 1AM.  I had a big bruise on my ribs, a scabbed cut on my head, and blood in my eye.  A probation officer I know made a joke about buying me a "William Holden Drinking Helmet."
Anyway, I now partake of white grape juice and the stuff that looks & tastes like wine, but has no alcohol.  Once or twice a month I have a nice glass of Newcastle Brown Ale.  
I won't have any during tx.  Unfortunately, my friend is getting married in Oct & I am best man.  I suppose I can take a slug of champagne for the toast, but the bachelor party will suck for me.
DJL

[Bliss68]

I tested reactive hcv about 1 week ago.. I have been a drinker for 30years the last 20 1 to 4 glasses of red wine a day.. I have an uncle that is a doctor who has drank 1 fifth of wiskey a day for 40 years..hes 76 just found out he is diabetic.  no cirroces. my mother always told me we were just alike in looks and manner. he was a navy diver..I was a navy diver. he is a pilot i am a pilot.. ect ..I truly hope i have his liver..I hope you do also,  its the luck of the draw.. you sound like one of the lucky ones..

[landfill]

If she's going to treat you for 6 months you must be geno 2 or 3.  Because these have a high rate of success I think that the protocol says that a biopsy is optional.  I'd say take her advice and get rid of the hepc.  I guess you can insist on a biopsy if you want to but I wouldn't.

I don't know what a very low load signifies.  My dr said once that hepc viremia (infection) manifests a load of a few hundred thousand at least but I've seen posts here from people who are much lower.  Maybe somebody else here can illuminate this.

There is a low but finite incidence of false positives for the antibody screening and labs can screw up viral loads too.  My dr uses an in-house lab which saves the samples throughout tx.  He says he's had to order retesting of earlier samples to clear up contradictory results.  The testing isn't perfect but I think that if your dr says you have it you can believe her.  Good luck.

[Bliss68]

Sounds like me in mirror, I drank  1 to 4 glasses of red wine a day for the last 20yrs, on weekends i could kill 10 beers a day..what scares me is i had two knee surgerys last year, was perscribed hydrocodone 750mg.  for at  a year took anywhere from 4 to six a day, off and on.  many of those days still had a few glasses of wine at night.  havent had any of the symptoms others have had.. one bright spot is this forum, i have read about other people who abused them far worse than me 8 to 14 a day and still drank...with no permanent effects. I read a doctor question forum, the dr stated the current thought is that it takes 4 grams of the tylenol stuff (dont think i can spell it) to be toxic to a dangerous level when mixed with alcohol..If you know any different PLEASE DONT TELL ME!  Its the only good thing i hae read..and your right its a m1 socom 16, have a colt a4 two aks 1 milled 1 stamped (norincos). bunch of other rifles and pistols not very interesting.